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Sudan's 'war child' sings for peace

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Sudan's 'war child' sings for peace05:36

The two nations, however, remained at odds on a number of hot-button issues. Their leaders have faced international pressure, from the likes of the United Nations and the African Union, to resolve their disputes and come to a lasting agreement.

They made some headway toward that end late last month, though the deal they reached failed to address a number of disputes.

For example, during the talks in Addis Ababa, the two presidents did not reach agreement on the status of Abyei, a disputed region claimed by both countries, which has been a contentious issue since South Sudan declared independence on July 9 of last year.

In April, Sudan and South Sudan slipped close to all-out war with a series of tit-for-tat air raids and ground attacks that prompted the African Union and the U.N. Security Council to push the two sides to act.

This month, despite the periodic violence and unresolved issues, Sudan's president authorized the reopening of all border crossings with South Sudan.